FA Cup fourth round: Brentford v Chelsea

Venue:

Griffin Park

Date:

Sunday, 27 January

Kick-off:

12:00 GMT

Coverage:

BBC Sport website, BBC London 94.9, BBC Radio 5 live

Former Brentford manager Steve Perryman says the Bees should take giant-killing inspiration from League Two side Bradford City's run to the Capital One Cup final when they face European champions Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

And while, like that day at Anfield, the odds are stacked heavily in the top-flight side's favour for the first competitive west London derby between the two sides since 1950, Perryman says any FA Cup underdog must be full of belief.

"Don't tell me you can't get a slip in the box and a lucky break. It's possible," said the Spurs legend, who also won two Uefa Cups and the League Cup twice during his time at White Hart Lane.

"The longer the smaller team are level, the better their chance - and it only takes a defensive error or a great delivery from a set-piece.

"There will be a great atmosphere at Griffin Park and that probably lifts the smaller team more than the big team because Chelsea will be used to it.

"There are no mugs in the lower divisions now. They are all fit, they will have a spring in their step and they can cause an upset."

Brentford are not an up-and-under, blowing-the-bugle type team. But actually that will probably suit Chelsea more

Ron HarrisFormer Chelsea and Brentford defender

A squad featuring Andy Sinton, Tony Parks, Neil Smillie, Keith Jones, Gary Blissett and Cadette had to win two replays and beat three higher-division clubs in Manchester City (who won promotion to the old Division One that season), Blackburn Rovers and Walsall to set up their dream tie at Anfield.

It did come at a cost though.

"Unfortunately, playing all those games hampered our league progress a bit that season," Perryman said. "We were in a good position for promotion and it didn't quite happen. You get involved in so many games there has to be a focus taken away.

"But I think it was the prelude to getting promoted under Phil Holder in 1992. That Cup run gave the team such confidence that we could be on the same pitch as the big boys. It was a wonderful experience.

"Sinton got sold on the back of that game [to QPR]. He was obviously a good player but showed he could handle it with the big boys."

Brentford are currently third in League One, where they have only lost four times all season. Their defeat by Tranmere Rovers last Saturday was their first at Griffin Park since August and up front they have Clayton Donaldson, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions so far this term.

But Chelsea legend Ron Harris, who played 795 games for the Blues before taking up a player-coach role with Brentford in 1980, cannot see an upset despite being impressed with the Bees when he saw them beat Southend to tee up the Chelsea tie.

Chelsea FA Cup charge

Chelsea were beaten 4-0 by Barnsley in the FA Cup third round in the 1988-89 season but went on to win the old Division Two title.

The Blues reached their first FA Cup final in 24 years in 1994 but were brushed aside 4-0 at Wembley by a Manchester United side who clinched the double with that emphatic victory.

Chelsea won the 1997 FA Cup final, their first major trophy in 27 years and their second FA Cup success.

Since then they have won the competition five further times, in 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

They have won the FA Cup in four of the last six seasons, and have appeared in six of the 13 finals this century.

"Brentford are not an up-and-under, blowing-the-bugle type team and they played it around pretty well. But actually that will probably suit Chelsea more.

"It's a fantastic tie for Brentford. You get upsets every year but I just cannot see it in this game.

"Brentford would have to play out of their skin to beat Chelsea and Chelsea would have to play very poorly."

Notts County coach Colin Lee, a former Chelsea and Bees player, has been impressed with League One rivals Brentford this season, but cannot see an upset despite the turmoil at Stamford Bridge and the supporters' anger at Rafael Benitez's appointment as manager.

"Chelsea will put out a very strong team. Brentford deserve that but I think Chelsea will have too much for them," he said.

Lee joined Brentford from the Blues in 1987 and combined playing duties with a first foray into management as a youth team coach.

And although he was not involved in the game at Anfield, he was still on the playing staff and fondly recalls his spell with the Bees and the excitement that Cup run created.